1835.] Hindu Schismatics in Western India. 77 



Punishment. 



When any member of the community infringes a rule, he is brought 

 to Shahpura, at the festival of Phul-dol, by someone of the byragis, 

 who, as already mentioned, are dispersed over the country to watch 

 the conduct of the sect. He is not permitted to eat with the brother- 

 hood, nor to enter the holy edifice ; but seated at a little distance off 

 under a certain tamarind tree, where his food is sent to him on a platter 

 of dh&k* leaves. The offence with which he is charged is investigated 

 by the council of eight, who make a report on it to the high priest. 

 If found guilty, the culprit is deprived of his rosary, a barber of the 

 establishment shaves the top-knot off his head, and he is ejected from 

 the community. What is stated above applies to grievous offences. 

 Slight infringements of order are investigated at all seasons ; and 

 sometimes when the culprit happens to be a long distance off, the 

 priest stationed at the place takes a deposition of the case, and trans- 

 mits it to the mahant, when if considered fit, he excommunicates the 

 culprit, without ordering him to Shahpura. It will be seen, the 

 superior and council are a check upon each other, and they must coin- 

 cide in opinion before a sentence can be carried into effect. 



Religious Edifices. 



Temples of the Ramsanehis are known under the name of Ram- 

 dwara, or the gate of God. Among other places in Rajwara, where 

 they are met with, may be enumerated Jypur, Jodphur, Mertha, 

 Nagor, Udypur, Chittor, Bhilwara, Tonk, Bundf, and Kotah. The 

 one at Shahpura is by a great deal the handsomest, and distinguish- 

 ed for the richness and magnificence of its architecture : it is built 

 of rock quarried at Kati, a distance of twenty-four miles, and coated 

 with brilliant white chunam, formed of the same stone, reduced 

 to powder and mixed with milk and other ingredients, which adapt it 

 to receive a high polish. The entrance porch faces the east, and is 

 very lofty, with an arched balcony above, and like other parts of the build- 

 ings, neatly carved. From the centre of the pile, a handsome pavilion, 

 with open arches, rises far above the other towers ; and in a vault be- 

 neath, the corpse of the founder of the sect was reduced to ashes. 

 Between the vault and pavilion, there is an equilateral apartment, sup- 

 ported on twelve pillars, connected by scolloped arches : this was the 

 favourite abode of Ramcharan, and here the mahant daily takes his 

 seat, to expound the doctrines of the faith, and the congregation assem- 

 ble on the terrace without, for morning and evening prayer. 



On the south face of the temple, but quite separate from it, stands a 

 range of seven domes, to which you ascend by steps, six of them re- 



•* Bufea frondosa. 



